Nationalist chiefs sign pact to make Burnham ‘the last UK prime minister’

In Dublin, the heads of three nationalist parties - the Scottish National Party, Sinn Féin from Ireland, and Plaid Cymru from Wales - have signed a pact to align their rebellious objectives. This development poses a new challenge for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has been under pressure following Donald Trump's sudden claim that a united Ireland is "inevitable."

While the nationalist leaders expressed a muted response to Trump's declaration, they acknowledged his sentiments as a catalyst for pushing forward with independence referendums in Scotland and Ireland, as well as advocating for increased devolution of power from Westminster to the Welsh Assembly. The joint statement by the three parties emphasized that each nation has the right to decide its future through democratic means and in accordance with its people's wishes.

Scotland's First Minister, John Sweeney, who has been in power since 2024, is pushing for a second independence referendum following the 2014 vote, which he believes will be approved by the Scottish public. Irish party Sinn Féin, representing both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has long advocated for a border poll in Northern Ireland to reunite it with the Republic.

Their leader, Mary Lou McDonald, highlighted Trump's pro-unity stance as a reflection of America's longstanding support for the Irish identity. Meanwhile, Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, while acknowledging the importance of unity, cautioned against simplistic calls for it, emphasizing the complex nature of the issue and the need for a more nuanced approach.